Sixers: Can Lottery Position Affect Long-Term Future Of Robert Covington?

By George Kondoleon | May 15, 2017

Mar 19, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) shoots the ball during the fourth quarter of the game at the Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sixers are heading into the NBA Lottery and Draft with an expected pursuit of a promising guard, but if the ping pong balls fall a certain way, could it foreshadow the future of Robert Covington?

The 2017 NBA Lottery will stand to be one of the more important events through this Sixers rebuild. With a potential for two top ten picks in a loaded draft class, the Sixers will have options come June. But if the team falls out of reach for a valued guard that fits next to Ben Simmons, or have the chance to draft high potential wing Josh Jackson.

It’s a good problem to have. But the Sixers bolster Robert Covington, who has continued to develop into an effective two-way wing despite streaks of cold shooting throughout the season. Covington was once viewed as a placeholder at the wing position, but has elevated to the top half of defending wings and has proven to be a formidable NBA starter.

Entering the last season of his valued contract, Covington has become a reliable third scoring option for almost any team. This may be the height of his value, and as the contract comes to an end, the Sixers are seeking a contract extension according to 97.3 ESPN’s Michael Kaskey-Blomain. It’s the right move. Covington is an asset that can be used in multitudes of ways. A glue guy through defensive rotations, a role player, or a trade chip.

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That last part may be in play sooner than later depending on the results of Tuesday’s lottery. The Sixers could end up with the third pick in the draft, and assuming the first two selections are guards Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, Philadelphia would have wing Josh Jackson presumably at the top of the board.

This would give Philadelphia a wing for the future, one whose talents could easily surpass Covington’s. Covington’s short term role with the club may go unchanged, but he’d no longer be the assumed starter through this turnaround.

The Sixers could also end up with more than one pick in the last half of the top five. Covington could easily be the sweetener in a blockbuster deal, or even in a deal for the Sixers to move up and down in the draft. He’s not a totally expendable piece by any means, but there could be three wing prospects in this draft that can make a similar type of impact from the start.

The contract is still favorable to teams as they head into two summers of high spending and a slowly flattening cap. Add in the fact that Covington would be a premier bench player, and the Sixers could find themselves accumulating assets that were only pipe dreams when Sam Hinkie took a chance on the D-League wing.

Tomorrow’s lottery has implications for many, but Robert Covington could be watching his future be written with one stop of a ping pong ball. Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, or Jonathan Isaac could put Covington’s long-term role with the team in question, or even push his name into a trade while his contract is still viewed as a bargain.

Next: Everything You Need To Know About The NBA Lottery

Covington has developed into one of the top talents on this young Sixers team. But there are still questions on whether he’s part of the future success as the talented young core grows. The Sixers could be put into motion tomorrow with one draw in the lottery, and roster shakeouts could be a result of a whirlwind domino effect.